Keep alcohol out of Hindu holidays

Mar 22, 2013 Letters

---

 

 

Dear Editor,
Our letter is penned to the legislators and the public with regard to some of the issues we as a Hindus feel need urgent attention and redress.
In Guyana, Hinduism, one of the main religions, seem to be treated with disrespect and disregard by the old fashioned laws of Guyana and existing policies. We call for the amendment of these archaic laws to address issues which plague us today!
We have noted the following acts which defeat the freedom enshrined in our dear constitution. Ponder on the below mentioned for a while:
1.      Designated National Hindu holidays are not given due moral support as the sale of alcohol, which contributes to the desecration of the sanctity of these festivals continues. Currently, the law only prohibits sale of alcohol on Good Friday. We call for the amendment of this law to include all religious holidays.
2.      Hindu children and children of other religions are forced say Christian prayers at Government schools. We are asking for a Universal prayer or prayers of all the major faiths to be said at schools.
3.      Hindu/Indian music is ridiculed and sometimes banned from the school settings. But look at the type of music permitted and played at school sports and parties!
4. Hindu art forms and culture are not encouraged at the school level.
5. No time –off is granted for worship by Hindu employees on sacred days such as Ramnavmi, Shivratri.etc.
The matters affecting the sentiments of Hindu followers in this country continue to persist.
Chapter III, Article 40 of the Schedule to the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana,[4] intituled Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual, provides as follows: 40.    (1)  Every person in Guyana is entitled to the basic right to a happy, creative and productive life, free from hunger, disease, ignorance and want.
That right includes the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual.
How can Hindus acknowledge that they enjoy freedom of religions, expressed as freedom of conscience when they cannot enjoy their festivals in peace? How can Hindus say they are allowed to fully participate in their religion, if employers do not recognize and respect the rights of their employees in matters relating to their religion?
With regard to the consumption of alcohol, we have noted the deliberate attempts to make our festivals impure by our fellow Guyanese. Only last year, this was evident. Along the East Canje Public Road, barbeques and vulgar music emanated from various groups who decided on the night of Deepavali to host street parties.
How inappropriate were these acts? Private parties have now adopted a renewed definition, as “parties kept on the roads”.
Imagine people’s freedom of movement was trampled upon, the profanity on Deepavali was perpetrated. Lives were lost in previous years as a result of these “road fairs” yet no one sees it fit or as a moral obligation to society to protect the sacrosanct nature of Deepavali by prohibiting the granting of licenses for these parties?
Well, it is true what has happened has happened. What will happen, we can decide! We therefore call on all Guyanese, all Legislators, all Members of Parliament, all Government Ministers, especially the Ministers of Culture and Home Affairs to act to prohibit the sale, distributions, consumption of alcohol on all Hindu National Holidays. The Christians enjoy the benefit of the law on Good Friday, why can’t the Hindus?
We have noted the repeated calls made by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and other letter writers who condemn alcohol consumption and sales especially at these observances, but we believe it is time for someone to listen.
The Sabha has commendably ensured that all its events are alcohol free. In fact, other religious communities should emulate this policy from the Sabha in an attempt to curb the disease of alcohol abuse. The Sabha has made strident calls over the year for the amendment of the law to prohibit the sale of alcohol on all religious holidays and not only Good Friday.
Our society is rapidly becoming the loser in the alcohol abuse battle, perhaps; simply we have not yet matured fully to see that the cons far outweigh the pros. Look at the embarrassing scenario recently involving the students of a Berbice school.
Take a visit to our school sports, which should rightfully be called ‘school party’.  Students and attendees are intoxicated alike.  Therefore, as we look at the current nasty trend involving alcohol and our youths, we need to make a start now to break it up!
We, again reiterate our call for all Hindu National Holidays to be declared a “dry day”, meaning no alcohol beverage must sold and those culpable must be made to feel brunt  of the law.
We also call on all Guyanese to respect Phagwah, Diwali and other religious holidays and not to engage in acts such as consumption of alcohol which only seek to desecrate these sacred days.
Remember: Besides a happy policy as to civil government, it is necessary to institute a system of law and
jurisprudence founded in justice, equity, and public right.( Ezra Stiles).
This Holi will test the maturity of our Policy makers and the larger Guyanese society on the alcohol issue.
Let us respect each other!
Submitted by the Members of the Golden OM Dharmic Youth Organization,
(Reliance Settlement, East Berbice)

---

---